(Rendering courtesy of Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.)
The Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) has long been a vital part of air travel, connecting Central Oregon to the rest of the country and beyond. As the region continues to grow in both population and popularity as a tourist destination, more people than ever are going through RDM on their way to adventure, family time, business and more. Over the past decade, RDM has seen passenger growth more than double, putting significant strain on existing infrastructure.
Notably, the previous terminal upgrade was in 2008, and that upgrade was meant for smaller aircraft and passenger quantities than what RDM is seeing now, and is projected to see in the near future as growth trends continue upward. Even events like the COVID Pandemic spurred the need for new and greater infrastructure even further, as travelers and remote workers flocked to the region.
To address the increased need, RDM is expanding its terminal with a comprehensive upgrade, with plans to fully open in 2028. According to RDM: “This transformative project will add more than 80,0000 square feet of new space, including seven new jet bridges, expanded waiting areas, over 6,000 square feet of new concessions, and more than double the terminal passenger seating. Travelers will also benefit from enhanced accessibility, a state-of-the-art companion care restroom, new restrooms, service animal relief area and an advanced public address system for improved communication.”
The upgrades are based around a few key needs, such as increasing overall capacity for more travelers, taking measures to maintain safety and clear communication among larger groups, and increasing accessibility for everyone. People living with disabilities will find useful accommodations that make the stressful task of traveling and using public infrastructure much smoother, while all passengers will enjoy the benefit of using the new jet bridges, an upgrade from the previous system of walking out on the tarmac and boarding the plane with mobile ramps. This not only increases accessibility and elevates the passenger experience, it also allows for a larger, more expanded fleet of planes.
From RDM: “The City of Redmond went out for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for both the Architectural and Engineering Services, awarded to RS&H in April 2022, and Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), awarded to Skanska in June 2023. The CM/GC is an alternative contracting method that was approved by the City of Redmond Contract Review Board in October 2022 and is in compliance with requirements set forth by ORS 2789C.”
Working with RS&H on the architectural design side is Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc. Hennebery Eddy have been collaborating with public and private clients for nearly 30 years, working to create design that is both true to place and adaptive for a net positive impact. Their extensive portfolio includes aviation and mobility work, including the PDX Concourse Extension, which added 800 feet, seven new contact gates, two ground-load gates, concessions and other amenities while creating improved airline operational spaces.
According to Katie Hall, AIA, NCIDQ, associate principal at their Bend office, the logic for the RDM expansion is similar: to focus on logistic improvements, increasing operational capacity, and improving passenger experience with both the ease of smoother travel and the experience of thoughtful, intentional design.
Hall said the design prioritizes local materials and celebrates Central Oregon’s natural beauty and high desert landscape, inspired by local forests, the Deschutes River, Smith Rock, the Cascade Mountain Range and more. From the beginning to the end of the passenger experience, guests will get a taste of what makes Central Oregon so special, all in RDM.
Other upgrades include new space for dining and concessions, more comfortable seating, clear circulating paths and improved acoustic design to improve navigation, and even ample viewing space of the Cascade Range, while still taking into consideration sunlight and angles, so that airport employees are not dealing with annoying glare on their screens for hours on end.
The project is slated for LEED Silver with water-saving fixtures, solar panels and reused mass timber sourced from PNW forests, resulting in improved indoor air quality, reducing operational costs and negating the need for wood glue.
The improvements will also have a strong economic impact, including Increased tourism and visitor spending with higher passenger capacity, 383 full-time constructions jobs created, 207 new permanent jobs created including positions with TSA, the airlines, concessionaires, rental car agencies and airport staff with a local economic impact of $39 million annually, and paid opportunities for local and regional artists to showcase their work to thousands of travelers each day.
The project is funded by the FAA, grants, airlines, and airport users — not local taxpayers. The estimated project cost is $180 million, to be funded through the following sources: $20 million from the Federal Airport Improvement Program, $18 million from bipartisan infrastructure law, $7 million from the Federal Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act: Airport Terminals Program Funding, $90 million from full faith and credit bonds, dedicated by Airport Revenues (i.e. parking), $35 million from available airport cash funds, and $10 million from Connect Oregon Grant Funding.
Hall and the team at Hennebery Eddy said that it is vital to them to invest where they live, stating the importance of the new RDM terminal expansion and the experience it will bring travelers when it opens in 2028.
Visit flyrdm.com/terminal-expansion for more information on the upgrades coming to RDM.
